Knicks Zonehttp://blog.northjersey.com/knicks
Your front-row seat for all New York Knicks newsTue, 23 Dec 2014 16:10:50 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.9.1The hardest Hall of Fame vote everhttp://blog.northjersey.com/knicks/387/the-hardest-hall-of-fame-vote-ever/
http://blog.northjersey.com/knicks/387/the-hardest-hall-of-fame-vote-ever/#commentsTue, 23 Dec 2014 16:10:50 +0000http://blog.northjersey.com/knicks/?p=387Continue reading →]]>Okay, it was my first ballot, so yeah, it was my hardest one – but in speaking to other long-time voters this year’s ballot was one of the most difficult to settle with so many issues clouding the choices.

The debate has been loud about the 10-vote limit and the Hall’s choice to reduce the time on the ballot from 15 years to 10 years. But there is nothing like the PED issue and it just isn’t a simple one to answer.

When you look at the names on the ballot this year the first glance eye test clearly leaves two players as the most dominant on the page – Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. But they are also the most controversial, the two names who have been most closely linked with performance enhancing drugs and the two who have some degree of evidence linking them – Bond’s admission to inadvertently using “the cream” and the testimony of Clemens’ pal, Andy Pettitte.

So do we throw them off the ballot? When I didn’t have a vote I decided that the defining line would be – if we knew they did it, they’re out, if we don’t have proof and only suspicion I can’t be the judge and vote against them. But now that I have a vote and the decision is real, it’s not so simple.

There are all sorts of considerations – the numbers before the suspicion of PED use by Clemens and Bonds not the least. But also we just don’t know who used, who didn’t, how pervasive it was. But I certainly believe it was more than two high-profile targets using. And does the evidence against those two really mean much more than the accusations and suspicions against others. Does the cream or clear mean more than heading to Toronto for a blood-spinning session with Dr. Galea?

The final thought I came to – without the help of PED’s to make it simpler for me – is that like any other era in history: the deadball era, racial line, elevated mounds – this is the game that was played in this era. And judging players against the players of their era is sadly all we can do. So the two best players on the ballot are the last two I add to my own – and I do it grudgingly, costing spots for players who I would love to give a vote to for their play on the field and the distinguished way they conducted themselves (at least we think – the dilemma again). If I have 12 votes or 15 or 17 I’d check the box for Alan Trammell and Tim Raines, two deserving candidates who are nearing the end of their time on the ballot. I suspect next year, with a less crowded field, both will get my vote. Edgar Martinez also is a near miss, his hitting prowess worthy of a spot in the Hall. Jeff Kent also falls in that area.

So who made it?

Bonds and Clemens – I just can’t check off a ballot and leave off the two best players of their time. They won’t likely get enough votes, but I will not be the one to find the line on PED use.

Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson and John Smoltz – By every measure Pedro is a no-brainer. Not only a tremendous talent with an explosive arm, an assortment of unhittable pitches and uncanny accuracy, but along with Tom Glavine, one of the smartest pitchers I’ve ever spoken with. He was also an odd bird at times, but a gentleman and teacher to young pitchers – and devoted to the coaches and players who helped him find his way. Johnson may not have been the magnetic personality that Pedro was, but his dominance is unquestionable. Smoltz, as the final piece of the trio of first-time candidates, was not as intimidating as the first two, but consistently brilliant through every role and one of the greatest postseason pitchers in history.

Mike Piazza and Jeff Bagwell – And here is where that line of PED use becomes so tough. Whispers follow these two – without a positive test, a shred of evidence to back them up. Do I suspect they used something? Maybe. But to push them aside would be to just throw out the entire era. Both players were dominant hitters – Piazza the best hitting catcher ever and Bagwell not just a hitter, but he was a well-rounded player.

Craig Biggio – Career numbers add up for sure, but so do other measures – four gold gloves, the ability to excel at whatever position he was placed.

Curt Schilling and MIke Mussina – It would be so much simpler if I left out Bonds and Clemens, because once I decided to put them in it came down to these two pitchers who I believe are deserving and Trammell and Raines, who are left out. While neither of these two may not be Clemens or Pedro or Johnson standing 60 feet, 6 inches away from a hitter, they were deserving of enshrinement, easily measuring up to the Hall’s qualifications. Schilling rivals Smoltz with his postseason performance and Mussina may have fallen short of 300 wins, but his body of work in a hitter’s time and in the AL East is notable.

* * *

One other note – my first ballot is Don Mattingly’s last shot on the list. I considered a vote for him even though I knew he wouldn’t make it, but couldn’t in this crowded field. For six years, he did meet the eye test – a great fielding first baseman, a very good hitter. Injuries robbed him too soon of his skills and he found himself lost between the Yankees runs of titles.

One more other note – Cliff Floyd will not get a vote, but man was he a fun guy to cover.

Will the Oklahoma City Thunder Make the Playoffs in the 2014-2015 Season?

Yes EVEN (1/1)

No -140 (5/7)

Philadelphia 76ers – 2014-2015 Regular Season Win Total

Over/Under 9½

]]>http://blog.northjersey.com/knicks/383/updated-nba-odds-it-isnt-pretty/feed/0The crystal ball – Our Erroneous NBA Predictions for 2014-15http://blog.northjersey.com/knicks/380/the-crystal-ball-our-erroneous-nba-predictions-for-2014-15/
http://blog.northjersey.com/knicks/380/the-crystal-ball-our-erroneous-nba-predictions-for-2014-15/#commentsTue, 28 Oct 2014 16:49:19 +0000http://blog.northjersey.com/knicks/?p=380Continue reading →]]>Let’s get it out of the way right up front – when we make picks we are going to make mistakes. So when you throw these back at us in the coming months, yeah, we know, we know.

But we plow ahead anyway and in today’s Record we went with some of what to look for in the NBA – http://bit.ly/1rxfd5Q

]]>http://blog.northjersey.com/knicks/380/the-crystal-ball-our-erroneous-nba-predictions-for-2014-15/feed/0Odds are in for the NBA seasonhttp://blog.northjersey.com/knicks/378/odds-are-in-for-the-nba-season/
http://blog.northjersey.com/knicks/378/odds-are-in-for-the-nba-season/#commentsFri, 24 Oct 2014 17:37:13 +0000http://blog.northjersey.com/knicks/?p=378Continue reading →]]>Did you want to place a wager – for fun only of course – on who will be the first coach fired this season? On how many games Dwyane Wade will play? Or just size up the Knicks odds to win it all this year? Well, here you go:

Analysts at MyTopSportsbooks.com posted the following odds regarding the upcoming NBA season:

]]>http://blog.northjersey.com/knicks/378/odds-are-in-for-the-nba-season/feed/0NBA announces rule changeshttp://blog.northjersey.com/knicks/375/nba-announces-rule-changes/
http://blog.northjersey.com/knicks/375/nba-announces-rule-changes/#commentsFri, 17 Oct 2014 00:04:13 +0000http://blog.northjersey.com/knicks/?p=375Continue reading →]]>The NBA announced today that its Board of Governors has approved an additional “trigger” for instant replay review as well as five modifications to the existing replay rules. In addition, the Board approved three other playing rule changes. These rules will go into effect commencing with preseason games on Friday, October 17.

Expansion of Instant Replay Rules

Officials may utilize instant replay whenever they are not reasonably certain a team had an improper number of players on the court while the ball was in play.

Modification of Instant Replay Rules

Instant replay triggers that are currently in effect only during the last two minutes of regulation and the entire overtime period(s) instead shall be in effect only during the last two minutes of regulation and the last two minutes of overtime period(s).

Officials may now conduct an instant replay review whenever they are not reasonably certain as to which team should be awarded possession after a ball becomes out of bounds or whether an out of bounds in fact occurred during the last two minutes of regulation and the last two minutes of overtime period(s). Previously, officials could only use replay if they weren’t reasonably certain as to which of two players on opposing teams caused the ball to become out of bounds.

Officials are now permitted to utilize instant replay whenever they are not reasonably certain whether a foul that was called meets the criteria of a flagrant foul. Previously, the foul had to be called a flagrant on the floor in order to utilize instant replay.

Officials are now permitted to utilize instant replay whenever they are not reasonably certain whether a foul that was called meets the criteria of a clear-path-to-the-basket foul. Previously, the foul had to be called a clear-path foul on the floor in order to utilize instant replay.

Officials may now utilize instant replay any time they are not certain when any player (offensive or defensive) without the ball was fouled relative to the timing of a successful shot. Prior to this change, officials could only review the timing when an offensive player without the ball was fouled.

Rules Changes

If a team has too many players on the court while the ball is in play, (i) the offending team would both be assessed a non-unsportsmanlike technical foul and lose possession if it had possession at the time the violation was discovered, and (ii) the non-offending team would continue to have the option of either accepting or nullifying the game action that occurred during the violation. Previously, if the offending team had possession, it would keep possession of the ball despite the violation.

Teams may freely substitute players whenever any timeout is called. Prior to this change, there were limited circumstances in which a team couldn’t substitute for certain players at timeouts.

The shot clock will no longer be reset to five seconds when a held ball is caused by the defense with fewer than five seconds remaining on the clock.

Each of these rules was recommended by the NBA’s Competition Committee at its offseason meetings.

]]>http://blog.northjersey.com/knicks/375/nba-announces-rule-changes/feed/0Odds not in Knicks favor to win individual honorshttp://blog.northjersey.com/knicks/372/odds-not-in-knicks-favor-to-win-individual-honors/
http://blog.northjersey.com/knicks/372/odds-not-in-knicks-favor-to-win-individual-honors/#commentsTue, 14 Oct 2014 20:01:38 +0000http://blog.northjersey.com/knicks/?p=372Continue reading →]]>While the wins and losses may be tough early for the Knicks, the oddsmakers don’t like their chances in individual races either. Here’s the picks according to bovada.lv

“In what would have been a two way race for MVP once again, Durant’s injury has moved LeBron James to the odds on favorite at 5/6. Oklahoma City will still be up there with the frontrunners in odds to win the championship, but losing Durant for the beginning of the season will surely hinder their chances going from 5/1 to 7/1 and making the Spurs the clear favorites out of the West at 7/2. The Thunder pre-injury had the highest posted win total of 57.5 and it has since dropped down to 52.5.”

-Kevin Bradley, Sports Book Manager, Bovada.lv

Awards Odds

Odds to Win 2014-15 NBA Regular Season MVP

LeBron James (CLE) 5/6

Kevin Durant (OKC) 4/1

Blake Griffin (LAC) 12/1

Derrick Rose (CHI) 15/1

Russell Westbrook (OKC) 15/1

Chris Paul (LAC) 16/1

Carmelo Anthony (NY) 22/1

Anthony Davis (NO) 25/1

James Harden (HOU) 28/1

Stephen Curry (GS) 28/1

Kobe Bryant (LAL) 30/1

LaMarcus Aldridge (POR) 33/1

Kyrie Irving (CLE) 33/1

Kevin Love (CLE) 35/1

Dwight Howard (HOU) 50/1

John Wall (WAS) 80/1

Damian Lillard (POR) 80/1

Joakim Noah (CHI) 100/1

Tony Parker (SA) 100/1

Chris Bosh (MIA) 100/1

Dwyane Wade (MIA) 100/1

DeMar DeRozan (TOR) 100/1

Andrew Wiggins (MIN) 100/1

Al Jefferson (CHA) 125/1

Rajon Rondo (BOS) 125/1

Tim Duncan (SA) 150/1

Marc Gasol (MEM) 150/1

Odds to Win 2014-15 Rookie of the Year

Jabari Parker (MIL) 5/2

Andrew Wiggins (MIN) 15/4

Nerlens Noel (PHI) 11/2

Julius Randle (LAL) 7/1

Doug McDermott (CHI) 9/1

Marcus Smart (BOS) 12/1

Elfrid Payton (ORL) 15/1

Dante Exum (UTA) 18/1

TJ Warren (PHO) 18/1

Nik Stauskas (SAC) 25/1

Shabazz Napier (MIA) 30/1

Cleanthony Early (NY) 30/1

Bojan Bogdanovic (BRK) 30/1

Nick Johnson (HOU) 33/1

Aaron Gordon (ORL) 35/1

Gary Harris (DEN) 35/1

Kyle Anderson (SAN) 40/1

Noah Vonleh (CHA) 45/1

PJ Hairston (CHA) 45/1

Kostas Papanikolaou (HOU) 50/1

Adreian Payne (ATL) 55/1

James Young (BOS) 65/1

Jordan Adams (MEM) 65/1

K.J. McDaniels (PHI) 65/1

Mitch McGary (OKC) 65/1

Joel Embiid (PHI) 75/1

Odds to Win 2014-15 NBA Coach Of the Year

Gregg Popovich (SA) 3/1

David Blatt (CLE) 9/2

Tom Thibodeau (CHI) 7/1

Doc Rivers (LAC) 10/1

Steve Kerr (GSW) 10/1

Jeff Hornacek (PHO) 12/1

Rick Carlisle (DAL) 15/1

Dwane Casey (TOR) 15/1

Steve Clifford (CHA) 20/1

Terry Stotts (POR) 20/1

Derek Fisher (NY) 25/1

Scott Brooks (OKC) 25/1

Jason Kidd (MIL) 30/1

Kevin McHale (HOU) 30/1

Monty Williams (NO) 35/1

Lionel Hollins (BRK) 35/1

Eric Spoelstra (MIA) 35/1

Randy Wittman (WAS) 45/1

Brian Shaw (DEN) 60/1

Mike Budenholzer (ATL) 65/1

Stan Van Gundy (DET) 65/1

Frank Vogel (IND) 70/1

Brad Stevens (BOS) 75/1

Byron Scott (LAL) 75/1

David Joerger (MEM) 100/1

Flip Saunders (MIN) 100/1

Michael Malone (SAC) 175/1

Jacque Vaughn (ORL) 200/1

Brett Brown (PHI) 225/1

Quin Snyder (UTA) 225/1

Stats Leaders

2014-2015 NBA Points Per Game Leader

Kevin Durant (OKC) 3/2

Carmelo Anthony (NY) 2/1

LeBron James (CLE) 11/4

James Harden (HOU) 13/2

Russell Westbrook (OAK) 12/1

Stephen Curry (GSW) 20/1

Kobe Bryant (LAL) 25/1

Blake Griffin (LAC) 25/1

Kevin Love (CLE) 25/1

Derrick Rose (CHI) 40/1

LaMarcus Aldridge (POR) 40/1

Anthony Davis (NOP) 40/1

DeMarcus Cousins (SAC) 60/1

DeMar DeRozan (TOR) 75/1

Damian Lillard (POR) 75/1

Al Jefferson (CHA) 100/1

Chris Bosh (MIA) 100/1

Dwyane Wade (MIA) 100/1

Jabari Parker (MIL) 250/1

2014-2015 NBA Rebounds Per Game Leader

Andre Drummond (DET) 9/5

DeAndre Jordan (LAC) 2/1

Dwight Howard (HOU) 4/1

Kevin Love (CLE) 5/1

DeMarcus Cousins (SAC) 14/1

Nikola Vucevic (ORL) 16/1

Joakim Noah (CHI) 20/1

Omer Asik (NOP) 30/1

LaMarcus Aldridge (POR) 30/1

Anthony Davis (NOP) 30/1

Al Jefferson (CHA) 35/1

Zach Randolph (MEM) 50/1

Blake Griffin (LAC) 50/1

Derrick Favors (UTA) 65/1

2014-2015 NBA Assists Per Game Leader

Chris Paul (LAC) 2/3

Rajon Rondo (BOS) 2/1

John Wall (WAS) 8/1

Ricky Rubio (MIN) 14/1

Ty Lawson (DEN) 16/1

Stephen Curry (GS) 20/1

Russell Westbrook (OKC) 30/1

Deron Williams (BRK) 40/1

Jrue Holiday (NOP) 40/1

Kyle Lowry (TOR) 40/1

Brandon Jennings (DET) 40/1

Derrick Rose (CHI) 40/1

Jeff Teague (ATL) 50/1

Michael Carter-Williams (PHI) 50/1

]]>http://blog.northjersey.com/knicks/372/odds-not-in-knicks-favor-to-win-individual-honors/feed/0And the NBA over/unders are in – you’re not going to like it…http://blog.northjersey.com/knicks/368/and-the-nba-overunders-are-in-youre-not-going-to-like-it/
http://blog.northjersey.com/knicks/368/and-the-nba-overunders-are-in-youre-not-going-to-like-it/#commentsTue, 07 Oct 2014 17:31:58 +0000http://blog.northjersey.com/knicks/?p=368Continue reading →]]>Courtesy of Bovada.lv – the NBA win total over/unders are up. Please folks, don’t gamble. Unless you go over on the Bulls – that’s a sure thing…I kid, I kid…stay in school, don’t bet.

]]>http://blog.northjersey.com/knicks/364/knicks-release-preseason-schedule/feed/0The NBA dust has settled – and the oddsmakers yawnedhttp://blog.northjersey.com/knicks/358/the-nba-dust-has-settled-and-the-oddsmakers-yawned/
http://blog.northjersey.com/knicks/358/the-nba-dust-has-settled-and-the-oddsmakers-yawned/#commentsFri, 18 Jul 2014 18:47:54 +0000http://blog.northjersey.com/knicks/?p=358Continue reading →]]>The oddsmakers had the Knicks at 40-1 to win the title on July 11 – and they are still 40-1. The Cavs are favorites at 3-1 – which I’d like to bet against – I mean, if this wasn’t just for fun and no one really bet.